Tag Archives: First Principles

First Principles: The Essence of Government Is Power, and Power, Lodged As It Must Be In Human Hands, Will Ever Be Liable To Abuse

Posted on July 31, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.” – James Madison (1829)

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First Principles: To Take From One…His Own Industry and That of His Fathers…Is To Violate Arbitrarily the First Principle of Association

Posted on July 30, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Equal Industry, Everyone, Fathers, First Principle of Association, First Principles, Free Exercise, Fruits Acquired By It, Guarantee, His Own Industry, Industry, Others, Skill, Spare, Take From One, Thomas Jefferson, Violate | Leave a comment

First Principles: We Are Apt To Shut Our Eyes Against A Painful Truth – and Listen To the Song of That Siren, Til She Transforms Us Into Beasts

Posted on July 29, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth — and listen to the song of that syren, till she transforms us into beasts.” – Patrick Henry (1775)

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First Principles: Let Each Citizen Remember At the Moment He Is Offering His Vote That He Is Not Making A Present Or A Compliment To Please An Individual…But That He Is Executing One Of the Most Solemn Trusts In Human Society

Posted on July 28, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual – or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Accountable, Citizen, Compliment, Country, First Principles, God, Human Society, Individual, Present, Samuel Adams, Solemn Trust, Vot | Leave a comment

First Principles: The Propriety of A Law, In A Constitutional Light, Must Always Be Determined By the Nature of the Power Upon Which It Is Founded

Posted on July 27, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“The propriety of a law, in a constitutional light, must always be determined by the nature of the powers upon which it is founded.” – Alexander Hamilton (1788)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Constitutional Light, Determined, First Principles, Founded, Law, Nature, Powers, Propriety | Leave a comment

First Principles: We Must Make Our Election Between Economy and Liberty, or Profusion and Servitude

Posted on July 26, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“We must make our election between economy and Liberty, or profusion and servitude.” – Thomas Jefferson (1816)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Economy, Election, First Principles, Independence, Liberty, Load, Perpetual Debt, Preserve, Profusion, Rulers, Servitude, Thomas Jefferson, We | Leave a comment

First Principles: Laws That Forbid the Carrying of Arms…Disarm Only Those Who Are Neither Inclined Nor Determined To Commit Crimes

Posted on July 25, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms … disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes.” – Cesare Beccaria

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Armed Person, Assailants, Attacked, Carrying of Arms, Cesare Beccaria, Commit Crimes, Determined, Disarm, Encourage Homicides, First Principles, Forbid, Greater Confidence, Laws, Neither Inclined, Thomas Jefferson, Unarmed Person | Leave a comment

First Principles: Tyranny, Like Hell, Is Not Easily Conquered, Yet We Have This Consolation With Us, That the Harder the Conflict, the More Glorious the Triumph

Posted on July 23, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” – Thomas Paine in “American Crisis” (1776)

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First Principles: If Congress Can Do Whatever In Their Discretion Can Be Done By Money, and Will Promote the General Welfare, the Government Is No Longer A Limited One, Possessing Enumerated Powers, But an Indefinite One, Subject To Particular Exceptions

Posted on July 22, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions.” – James … Continue reading →

Posted in First Principles | Tagged An Indefinite One, Congress, Discretion, Done By Money, Enumerated Powers, First Principles, General Welfare, Government, James Madison, Letter to Edmund Pendleton (January 21 1792), No Longer A Limited One, Particular Exceptions, Promote, Subject, Whatever | Leave a comment

First Principles: National Defense Is One of the Cardinal Duties of A Statesman

Posted on July 21, 2021 by alohapromisesforever

“National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman.” – John Adams (1815)

Posted in First Principles | Tagged Cardinal, Defense, Duties, First Principles, John Adams, National, One, Statesman | Leave a comment